Page 89 of 187
144
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of September 1974.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):-
What progress is being made in the Council's overall building programme and how do expected completions this year compare with performance in 1972-73 and 1973-74? Has the building programme now been agreed for next year?
MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE, CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKS PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council's building programme suffered a serious setback early this year when it was announced that Government funds would not be available during 1974-75 to begin the construction of projects which Government was committed to complete on the Council's behalf under the administrative arrangements between the Urban Council and Government. Up to this point, the building programme had been progressing at a steadily increasing rate. During 1972-73, 9 Urban Council projects in the Public Works Programme were completed at a total cost of $3.68m; and, in 1973-74, a further 17 projects costing $12.52m were completed. The number of completions scheduled for the current financial year was originally 24. Unfortunately, all but two of the items were due to be completed at Government's expense and, as a result of the financial cut-back, only three projects have been completed so far this year, one is under construction and two more are likely to be finished by the end of the year. The total cost of these six projects is $9.28m, but this includes $7.8m donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for the construction of the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool and $220,000 of Urban Council money for a public convenience at Ma Hang Village in Stanley. The Government share of the total is a mere $1.26m for four projects which had already started when the financial restraint was imposed.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
145
The Council reacted quickly to this difficult situation by immediately offering to assume financial responsibility for at least the smaller projects which might otherwise have been deferred indefinitely on financial grounds, on the condition that Government would undertake to build counterpart projects of equivalent value within a reasonable time scale. Although it has taken six months to negotiate mutually acceptable arrangements for the switching of Government and Urban Council financial responsibilities for specified projects, the scheme is now about to be implemented. As a result, the Council has been able to approve a building programme for 1975-76 which should produce 36 completed projects costing about $22m, all financed by the Council. Mr. MACKENZIE, will be glad to know that the 36 projects scheduled for completion next year include beach buildings at Shek O, Big Wave Bay, South Bay, Middle Bay and Stanley. It is intended to have these buildings ready by the start of the swimming season.
I have provided Mr. MACKENZIE with details of the individual projects referred to in this reply.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. FORSGATE for presenting a clear and concise statement and while, I think, we can only express disappointment with the performance for this year, may I ask if the Council's Works Planning Sub-Committee will ensure that all pressure is maintained on the future construction programme and that, if necessary, the utilization of private architectural assistance might be involved if this programme is seen not to be fulfilled?
MR. FORSGATE (in English):- I am glad to give that assurance, Mr. Chairman.
(2) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):-
As the present Kowloon Railway Terminal will be vacated by mid-1975, has a construction schedule now been drawn up for the Museum, Planetarium and other structures within the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex? What are the expected dates of completion and the estimated cost?
Page 89 of 187
144
...
Page 90 of 187
should be changed toPage 89 of 187
144
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of September 1974.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):-
What progress is being made in the Council's overall building programme and how do expected completions this year compare with performance in 1972-73 and 1973-74? Has the building programme now been agreed for next year?
MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE, CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKS PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council's building programme suffered a serious setback early this year when it was announced that Government funds would not be available during 1974-75 to begin the construction of projects which Government was committed to complete on the Council's behalf under the administrative arrangements between the Urban Council and Government. Up to this point, the building programme had been progressing at a steadily increasing rate. During 1972-73, 9 Urban Council projects in the Public Works Programme were completed at a total cost of $3.68m; and, in 1973-74, a further 17 projects costing $12.52m were completed. The number of completions scheduled for the current financial year was originally 24. Unfortunately, all but two of the items were due to be completed at Government's expense and, as a result of the financial cut-back, only three projects have been completed so far this year, one is under construction and two more are likely to be finished by the end of the year. The total cost of these six projects is $9.28m, but this includes $7.8m donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for the construction of the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool and $220,000 of Urban Council money for a public convenience at Ma Hang Village in Stanley. The Government share of the total is a mere $1.26m for four projects which had already started when the financial restraint was imposed.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
145
The Council reacted quickly to this difficult situation by immediately offering to assume financial responsibility for at least the smaller projects which might otherwise have been deferred indefinitely on financial grounds, on the condition that Government would undertake to build counterpart projects of equivalent value within a reasonable time scale. Although it has taken six months to negotiate mutually acceptable arrangements for the switching of Government and Urban Council financial responsibilities for specified projects, the scheme is now about to be implemented. As a result, the Council has been able to approve a building programme for 1975-76 which should produce 36 completed projects costing about $22m, all financed by the Council. Mr. MACKENZIE, will be glad to know that the 36 projects scheduled for completion next year include beach buildings at Shek O, Big Wave Bay, South Bay, Middle Bay and Stanley. It is intended to have these buildings ready by the start of the swimming season.
I have provided Mr. MACKENZIE with details of the individual projects referred to in this reply.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. FORSGATE for presenting a clear and concise statement and while, I think, we can only express disappointment with the performance for this year, may I ask if the Council's Works Planning Sub-Committee will ensure that all pressure is maintained on the future construction programme and that, if necessary, the utilization of private architectural assistance might be involved if this programme is seen not to be fulfilled?
MR. FORSGATE (in English):- I am glad to give that assurance, Mr. Chairman.
(2) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):-
As the present Kowloon Railway Terminal will be vacated by mid-1975, has a construction schedule now been drawn up for the Museum, Planetarium and other structures within the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex? What are the expected dates of completion and the estimated cost?
Page 90 of 187
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The changes made are: 1. The redundant "Page 89 of 187" and "144" at the end are removed. 2. The text is reformatted into HTML usingtags for paragraphs. 3. Minor spacing issues are corrected.
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Page 89 of 187
144
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of September 1974.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):-
What progress is being made in the Council's overall building programme and how do expected completions this year compare with performance in 1972-73 and 1973-74? Has the building programme now been agreed for next year? MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE, CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKS PLANNING SUB- COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council's building programme suffered a serious setback early this year when it was announced that Government funds would not be available during 1974-75 to begin the construction of projects which Government was committed to complete on the Council's behalf under the administrative arrangements between the Urban Council and Government. Up to this point, the building programme had been progressing at a steadily increasing rate. During 1972-73, 9 Urban Council projects in the Public Works Programme were completed at a total cost of $3.68m; and, in 1973-74, a further 17 projects costing $12.52m were completed. The number of comple- tions scheduled for the current financial year was originally 24. Unfortunately, all but two of the items were due to be completed at Government's expense and, as a result of the financial cut-back, only three projects have been com- pleted so far this year, one is under construction and two more are likely to be finished by the end of the year. The total cost of these six projects is $9.28m, but this includes $7.8m donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for the construction of the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool and $220,000 of Urban Council money for a public con- venience at Ma Hang Village in Stanley. The Government share of the total is a mere $1.26m for four projects which had already started when the financial restraint was
imposed.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
145
The Council reacted quickly to this difficult situation by immediately offering to assume financial responsibility for at least the smaller projects which might otherwise have been deferred indefinitely on financial grounds, on the condition that Government would undertake to build counterpart projects of equivalent value within a reason- able time scale. Although it has taken six months to negotiate mutually acceptable arrangements for the switch- ing of Government and Urban Council financial respon- sibilities for specified projects, the scheme is now about to be implemented. As a result, the Council has been able to approve a building programme for 1975-76 which should produce 36 completed projects costing about $22m, all financed by the Council. Mr. MACKENZIE, will be glad to know that the 36 projects scheduled for completion next year include beach buildings at Shek O, Big Wave Bay, South Bay, Middle Bay and Stanley. It is intended to have these buildings ready by the start of the swimming
season.
I have provided Mr. MACKENZIE with details of the individual
projects referred to in this reply.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. FORSGATE for presenting a clear and concise statement and while, I think, we can only express disappointment with the performance for this year, may I ask if the Council's Works Planning Sub-Committee will ensure that all pressure is maintained on the future construction programme and that, if necessary, the utilization of private architectural assistance might be involved if this programme is seen not to be fulfilled?
MR. FORSGATE (in English):—I am glad to give that assurance, Mr. Chairman.
(2) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):
As the present Kowloon Railway Terminal will be vacated by mid-1975, has a construction schedule now been drawn up for the Museum, Planetarium and other structures within the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex? What are the expected dates of completion and the estimated cost?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.